Spirit Adrift - Ghost at the Gallows

Spirit Adrift – Ghost at the Gallows
Release Date: 18th August 2023
Label: Century Media
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Metal, Old School Metal, Classic Rock.
FFO: Khemmis, Iron Maiden, Dio, Pallbearer, Haunt, Wytch Hazel.
Review By: Mark Young

Ghost at the Gallows is the new full-length album from Spirit Adrift, a band that started as the result of Nate Garret’s need to find an outlet for his emerging talent for writing and recording immediate, heavy material that could be appreciated and returned to years after the initial release. Taking in a number of inspirations, ranging from the death of loved ones to his continuing journey with sobriety, brings us to this point in time with his latest collection of songs that weave in and out of hard rock and heavy metal.

Looking online for background, the musical style has followed Nate’s own personal journey and if I’m honest I wasn’t quite sure what space they occupied upon first listen as overall it sounded light as opposed to dark if that makes any sense at all. It conjured up images of 80s metal, if you will, as if this was a continuation from that period. Going back to it again, I recognized it for what it was, apart from being a really strong collection of songs, which was a reclamation of sorts where these and others are finding that you don’t have to use the most diabolical tuning ever, that you don’t need to be performing growls and screams to find that heavy place. It’s like artists are finding that there is a ton of inspiration to be had in bands that came before thrash, speed etc. that relied upon all parts being balanced and operating at 100% capacity and having singers that sing. So, what is it like?

What we have here is a collection of unashamed heavy metal that certainly has leanings into hard rock, depending on where your filters sit. It’s all very fast, urgent riffing without straying into the aforementioned thrash or speed category, so they really move. The songs have a ton of lead guitar, often dominating each song as an expression of intent and to put on a good show for the listener, trading blows for musical supremacy. Each song comes at you differently, but all have the same properties of being well written and arranged, showing that a lot of thought has gone into each track before pressing record.

Personally, I don’t know if it’s for me and this is mainly because I go for that faster, darker (Slayer) genre, but I can appreciate a good album when I hear one. Check it out!